Malawi Council for Disability Affairs formerly known as Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) was established by an Act of Pariament, the Handicapped Persons Act 1971 Cap: 33:02 as a statutory corporation. Its goal is to facilitate the empowerment of persons with disabilities to enable them to actively participate and be included in the social economic development activities of their communuties and the country.

Bangwe Factory is one of the production units established by MACODA which is run as a commercial enterprise. The factory was established in 1975 aimed at sheltered employment in accessible environment to persons with disablities in Malawi. It also serves to raise awareness among members of the general public on the abilities and potential of persons with disablities in order to promote disability mainstream in the work place. As a commercial entity, the factory is expected to reinvest some of its proceeds in other rehabilitation programs and services that are run by the council. Currently the factory has 103 employees with 80% being staff with disabilities.